“Order up!” Megan Rocklin slid a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and hash browns beneath the warming lamp. As she wiped her damp hands on a clean dish towel, she took a quick glance at the tables in the diner. All but two were full, and the place buzzed with the happy chatter of satisfied customers. Not bad, considering she owned the only restaurant in town. If only it were this busy every other day of the week, she could pay off a few bills and breathe a bit easier.
Turning back to the grill, she picked up a spatula and flipped a series of pancakes. The air smelled of breakfast, warm and nice. It was her favorite part of the day. But she still needed to slice vegetables and fruit for the afternoon salad bar.
She slid open the glass pane of the window and welcomed the gush of fresh April air. Blazing sunshine taunted her. She’d like nothing more than to close up the diner, load her two kids and a picnic lunch into their rusty old truck and drive the twenty miles to Duck Creek Park. But taking a day off work was a luxury she couldn’t afford right now. She’d graduated from one of the top culinary schools in the nation, and look where she’d ended up. Living in the small, remote town of Minoa, Nevada.
Speaking of which. Where was Frank? The cook’s ten-minute break should have ended five minutes ago.
Megan tossed an irritated glance toward the back door. No doubt he was outside in the alleyway, puffing on a cigarette. She wouldn’t complain, though. Frank worked long hours without protest. A good, solid employee. She was just tired and grouchy, that’s all.
She forked a giant ham steak off the grill, slapped some eggs over easy and thick fries on the side, and garnished the plate with a slice of orange. Through the cutout window to the restaurant, she caught a glimpse of Connie racing back and forth to take orders, shuffle food and refill drinks. Megan should be out there helping her.
Blinking her gritty eyes, she gave the pancakes another flip. From all outward appearances, she didn’t miss a beat. But inwardly, her arms and legs felt like leaden weights. She hadn’t slept well the night before. In fact, she rarely slept through the night these days. Not since Blaine’s death last summer. And boy! Did she ever miss him today.
“So, what have we got?” Frank lumbered into the kitchen, a burly man of forty-eight years. Pulling his chef’s hat onto his balding head, he gave a deep, hacking cough. At least he covered his mouth. An invisible fog of cigarette smoke seemed to follow him as he stepped over to the double ovens. Megan hid a grimace.
“That bad habit of yours is gonna kill you one of these days, Frank. I wish you’d give it up,” she said.
She meant well but tried not to sound too much like his mother. Lately, she sounded like everyone’s mom. An old harpy, that’s what she’d become. She figured if she held on tight enough, she could control the world around her and keep from being hurt again. Her common sense told her that was an insane notion, yet she couldn’t let go completely and allow herself to be the happy, naive woman she’d once been. Not as a widow with two kids to raise and plenty of bills to pay.
“I know it’s not good for me, but now that my Martha’s gone, I ain’t got nothing but this job to live for,” Frank said.
His words sank deep into her heart. Blaine was gone, too, but at least she still had Caleb and June, her five- and eight-year-old children. If not for them, she wouldn’t have much to live for, either. And life shouldn’t be that way. Not ever.
“You’ve always got a place here with us, Frank. You mean a lot to me, which is why I wish you’d give up those cigarettes.” She reached up and squeezed his arm affectionately, meaning every word.
“Thanks, ma’am.” He flashed an unassuming grin, his ruddy cheeks wobbling.
She handed him the pancake turner. “You’ve got biscuits in the oven ready to come out and cakes on the grill ready to come off right now. And we’re out of sourdough.”
He didn’t bat an eye but went right to work assembling plates of food like a pro. Always calm, always steady. Megan thought she could learn something from his example. Outwardly, she appeared serene and collected. But inside, she was screaming. Too much work. Too little money. Too little sleep. And way too lonely.
The truth was, she didn’t want to be a single mom. She shouldn’t be a young widow. There was so much life ahead of her. So much love she wanted to share. But one thing was certain. She’d never, ever love another man that worked in a dangerous profession. After losing her husband fighting wildfires last summer, her heart couldn’t take it. No, sirree. Not ever again.
Stepping out into the restaurant, Megan reached behind the front counter for the coffeepot and made the rounds at each table, refilling cup after cup.
“Thanks, babe,” Connie trilled as she zipped past carrying four steaming plates of food.
Besides waitressing, Connie was also her dear friend. And after Blaine’s death, she’d been there for Megan. A sympathetic shoulder to cry on. Comforting and encouraging. Someone Megan could confide in.
“No problem,” Megan called in a light voice. “Just think. Only nine more hours and we can all go home.”
“You’ve got nine hours, but I’ve got just five,” Connie shot back with a laugh.
Yeah, Megan was abundantly aware of that fact. She’d opened the restaurant at six that morning and would be here until it closed at nine that evening.
She pushed that weary thought aside and reminded herself that she had a lot to be grateful for. It hadn’t been easy, but God had taken care of them.
The bell over the door tinkled, heralding the arrival of another customer. A tall, well-built man stepped inside. In a room filled with people, Megan felt his presence even before she glanced up. Her mouth dropped open and she stared. Not because he was a stranger, but because of how he looked.
High cheekbones, a chiseled chin, dark blond hair and devil-may-care eyes. More handsome than a man had a right to be. The kind that could have walked straight off the cover of GQ magazine. His blue jeans, cowboy boots and white T-shirt hugged his muscular body to perfection. Tall, lean and strong, he glanced about the room, taking it all in with a confident lift of his head. He radiated self-assurance. As though he owned the place.
Megan blinked, wondering who he was and what he was doing in a sleepy town like Minoa, Nevada.
Lifting a hand, he slung his thumb through a belt loop at his waist and glanced around the room. Two tables sat vacant, but Megan hadn’t cleared them yet. His gaze brushed past, screeched to a halt, then rushed back to settle on her. She felt the weight of his gaze like a ten-ton sledge. A frisson of awareness swept over her. She couldn’t move. Her feet felt as if they were stapled to the floor.
He walked toward her with a masculine swagger that told her he knew where he was going and exactly what he wanted once he got there.
Megan ducked her head and pretended to organize a panel of hot water glasses, fresh out of the dishwasher. From her peripheral vision, she watched the man sit on a bar stool directly opposite her and lean his elbows on the clean counter.
“Good morning.” She placed a menu and a glass of ice water in front of him.
“Morning, ma’am.” His deep voice sounded like rolling thunder.
She didn’t meet his eyes but could feel his gaze boring a hole in the side of her head.
A rattle of dishes caused her to turn just as Caleb and June ran past the bar stools in a game of chase. With fast reflexes, Megan snatched both of her kids by the arms and pulled them back behind the counter.
“Hey, you two little imps. What did I tell you about running through the restaurant?” she scolded in a low voice.
“Sorry, Mommy.” June gazed at her with wide, uncertain eyes. A smattering of freckles stood out across the bridge of her button nose, her blond ponytail bouncing.
“Yeah, we’re sorry, Mom,” Caleb crowed happily. So much like his father. Too agreeable to really understand that he’d done anything wrong. He just went along with his big sister.
As Megan smoothed Caleb’s rumpled T-shirt and flyaway hair, she gazed at her children’s sweet faces. Thinking how much they each looked like their daddy. Thinking this was no place to raise two active little kids. During the school week, she had them in an after-school program. But nights and weekends, they were here with her. She spent so little time with them as it was that she wanted them near her whenever possible, even if she had to keep working. Besides, she couldn’t afford a lot of child care. Not on her tight budget. Thank goodness most of her customers were friends and neighbors who didn’t mind seeing her kids in the diner now and then.
Megan hugged her children close, breathing deeply of their warm skin. A wave of unconditional love swept over her. Just what she needed to dissolve her frazzled nerves.
“How about if I take you to the park for an hour later this afternoon to play?” she said.
“You’re not too busy?” June asked.
Megan shook her head. “I’ll make time. We’ll go once the lunch rush settles down a bit. I’m sure Connie can handle things for a while.”
“You know I can. You guys go and have a little fun,” Connie said as she whisked by, carrying a tray of food for table number five.
“That would be fun,” June said.
“Yeah, and we can play kick ball,” Caleb said. He drew back his leg and kicked the air for emphasis.
“Okay. We’ll do it. But aren’t you tired now?” Megan asked.
She’d gotten both kids up at five that morning. As always, they hadn’t uttered a single complaint. Just rubbed their sleepy eyes and trundled out to the truck in their jammies. They’d changed into their street clothes later that morning. Because she practically lived at the restaurant, Megan had created a homey environment for them in the back office, where they could have some privacy to watch TV, color or sleep. But sometimes, they got restless. Like today.
“Nope, not a smidgen,” June replied, mimicking a phrase her father had often used.
Megan fought off a rush of guilt. Her kids should be outside, running in the tall grass and swinging in the park. They were just children, after all. This situation wasn’t their fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. But they still had to cope.
“You will be tired, my little June bug.” Megan brushed her index finger across the tip of her daughter’s nose.
After they’d played in the park, she knew they’d both collapse on the cot she’d set up in the back office. Just in time for another rush of customers wanting their dinner. In the meantime, it was more than difficult to keep an eye on two wriggly children while she was working.
“Why don’t you go in the back and watch TV for a while?” she suggested.
“I don’t want to,” June said.
“Do you want to help me instead?” she asked them, her voice enticing.
“Sure,” Caleb chirped with a ready nod of his head.
Megan swept a jagged thatch of hair back from her son’s forehead. “I’ve got two bags of garbage sitting beside the back door. If you work together, you can carry them outside and throw them into the dump. And after you’ve had your lunch, I told Frank to save a slice of fresh banana cream pie for each of you.”
“Yum!” Caleb gave a little hop and clapped his chubby hands.
June smiled wide, showing a missing tooth in front. “Okay, Mommy. We’ll do it.”
And off they went.
“Cute kids,” the handsome stranger at the counter said.
Megan glanced his way, feeling pleased, but suddenly self-conscious that he’d overheard her entire conversation. “Thanks.”
Swiveling on her flat, practical heels, she faced him. Her gaze dipped to the menu, which he hadn’t touched.
“Thanks, but I don’t need it.” He shook his head, a subtle smile curving the corners of his full mouth.
She slid the menu into the holder at the side of the cash register. Gripping her notepad and pen, she forced herself to meet his dazzling blue eyes.
“So what’ll it be, then?” she asked.
He flashed a magnetic grin. Wow! He had gorgeous blue eyes. Intelligent yet soft, with smile lines at the corners. His sun-bronzed skin told her he liked being outdoors.
“Steak and eggs, cooked medium rare and over easy. Fire potatoes, two griddle cakes and whole wheat toast with plenty of strawberry jam.”
Yep, his order was completely masculine, just like him. Coasting on autopilot, she slid a dish of prepackaged jams close to his hand. She jotted some notes, trying to get his order down before her muddled brain forgot everything.
He gave an infectious laugh. “You sure write fast. Have you got it all? I can repeat it, if you like.”
“Nope, I’ve got it. Anything to drink?” she asked, forcing herself not to look up.
“A tall glass of orange juice, please.”
“Coming right up.” She swiveled around and snapped his order up for Frank.
Forcing herself to keep working, she fled to the kitchen refrigerator to pour him some juice. She returned and had just set the glass in front of him when little Caleb came running in from the alleyway out back. He tugged on her apron and spoke in a shrill voice.
“Hurry, Mommy! Fire! Outside,” the boy cried.
The handsome man sitting at the counter jerked his head up, his eyes widening.
Wiping her hands on her apron, Megan scurried after her son and muttered under her breath. “What could make this day any crazier?”
* * *
The moment Jared Marshall heard the word fire, he was out of his seat. Without a backward glance, he followed Megan Rocklin down the hallway leading to the back door.
Yes, he knew the woman’s name. He was new in town, but Tim Wixler, his assistant fire management officer, had told him what she looked like. Though the description he’d been given didn’t do Megan justice. No, not at all.
Jared had come here specifically to speak to her about a catering job, but he’d never expected her to be so pretty and petite. She had a stubborn chin, pert nose, long strawberry blond hair and warm brown eyes. No, not really brown, but rather a golden amber. With reddish flecks in the center. Yeah, he’d noticed, in spite of her reticence to look at him. And in spite of his desire not to notice.
As he passed through the narrow hallway, he snatched a fire extinguisher off the wall. The screen door clapped closed behind him as he stepped out into the alley. Megan’s daughter was screaming and jumping up and down in absolute panic. Looking at his sister, the little boy followed suit and burst into tears. When Megan saw the flames licking above the top of a metal garbage can, she gasped.
“Where’s the lid? Can anyone find the lid? I’ve got to snuff the fire out,” she cried, searching through the rows of garbage cans lining the outer building.
Without hesitation, Jared pulled the ring on the extinguisher, aimed the nozzle at the trash can and depressed the trigger. A whoosh of white foam hit the flames. Within seconds, the fire was out.
The girl stopped screaming and the boy stopped crying. The two kids huddled next to their mom’s legs and sniffled. The poor little things were scared, and Jared thought that was good. After this experience, he doubted they’d ever play with matches.
“Oh, thank you.” Megan spoke with relief, one hand cradling Caleb’s head next to her thigh, her other hand clasped to her chest.
“You’re welcome.” Jared nodded, conscious of the cook, waitress and several customers from the restaurant coming outside to see what the commotion was about. Their eyes were filled with helpless frustration.
“I wonder what caused the fire,” Megan said.
Jared glanced around the narrow alley. His experienced gaze took in the variety of garbage cans, plastic black bags and a litter of cigarette butts lying in the dirt by the back door.
He pointed at the butts. “I suspect that’s your culprit. Someone could have tossed a hot cigarette into the garbage can and it ignited.”
“Of course. But how did you know what to do?” Megan asked. “You were so quick to react. It would have taken me several more minutes to remember the fire extinguisher. In all these years, I’ve never had to use it.”
He shrugged. “It’s what I do. I’m glad to help.”
She tilted her head. “What do you mean? What do you do?”
“I’m the new fire management officer at the Forest Service office in town. Normally I’d be wearing my Forest Service uniform, but I’m off duty today.”
Her face flushed a deep red. A cloud of doubt veiled her expressive eyes. “Oh. You’re a firefighter.”
It wasn’t a question. She said it as if it was something to be abhorred.
“So, you’re the new FMO.” Connie stepped forward and shook his hand. “We haven’t met yet, but you work with my husband, Tim Wixler.”
Jared smiled with recognition. “Sure. Tim’s a great guy. I’m glad to have him as my assistant FMO.”
“But you fight wildfires,” Megan said again, as though she couldn’t believe it.
He nodded. “Yes, or rather, I used to. Now, I just organize the people and equipment for fighting fires on the Minoa National Forest. Although I’m also the newest member of the voluntary fire department here in town.” He smiled, a frisson of pride filling his chest. In spite of suffering a painful divorce last year, he still loved his work. It’s all that had kept him sane after his ex-wife left him for another man.
“Well, I appreciate the help. Your meal is on the house,” Megan said.
“Nah, you don’t need to do that,” he countered.
“Sure I do. It’s my way of saying thank-you.”
He stepped forward and offered her his hand. “My name’s Jared Marshall.”
“I’m Megan Rocklin.” She took his hand in a tentative grip, but she didn’t smile.
“I’m glad to meet you, Mrs. Rocklin.”
She nodded. Without another word, she turned her shoulder on him and looked at the husky man wearing a chef’s hat. The cook. Jared had seen the guy back in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.
“Frank, I’m afraid you may have caused this fire. Can you be more careful with your cigarette butts in the future? I’ve got insurance, but I’d sure hate to have the place burn to the ground.” Her voice sounded gentle but stern.
Frank’s round face flushed red. “I... I’m sorry, Megan. I thought my cigarette was out. I didn’t mean to cause any harm.”
The poor guy looked profoundly apologetic. The little girl named June took his hand and leaned against his side in a silent show of support.
Megan relented, a smile of understanding creasing her face as she hugged the big man in a warm gesture of forgiveness. “I know you didn’t mean any harm. Just please be careful in the future. Or better yet, now is a great time to quit smoking altogether.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Frank said, his bushy brows pulled down in a thoughtful frown.
Jared liked this woman. Liked the way she treated her kids and her employees. She seemed to really care about them. And after what he’d been through with his ex-wife and her selfish demands, that meant a lot.
“Well, no harm done,” Jared said.
All eyes riveted on him. No one said a word. They looked at him as if he’d grown horns on top of his head. And suddenly, he felt out of place. As if he didn’t belong. Not yet, anyway. But he planned to change that over time. He loved the quiet camaraderie of this small town, the slower pace, the beautiful stands of timber covering the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This was his kind of place, and he was staying. He’d thought putting out the fire might win him a few new friends. So, why did he feel as if he was a leper trying to infect everyone? Maybe it was because they didn’t know him yet. He was a stranger, after all.
“Okay, the show is over, folks. Let’s get back to business.” Megan opened the screen door and urged her children, Frank and other people inside.
Jared held back, deciding to watch the fire for a while longer, to ensure it was really out.
Megan beckoned to him. “You don’t need to worry. I’ll keep an eye on it.”
“If you’ve got a bucket, I’d feel better to dump some water on it, just to make sure it doesn’t flare up again.”
“Yes, I can do that. Why don’t you come inside and Connie will get your meal for you?”
She stood, holding the screen door open, her stubborn chin lifting a notch higher in the air. Her beautiful eyes didn’t quite meet his. They seemed cold and remote, now. Not quite hostile, but almost. He felt her disapproval like a living thing and wondered what was wrong. What had he done? Since he’d mentioned that he fought wildfires for a living, she’d changed toward him, and he didn’t understand why. Most people loved firefighters. They were considered heroes. A profession little boys dreamed about becoming part of when they grew up.
“Actually, I was hoping to talk with you for a few minutes,” he said.
She pursed her lips. “About what?”
“I have a job offer for you.”
She let go of the screen door and it clapped closed. She tucked a curl of reddish-gold hair back behind her ear, looking beautiful and vulnerable.
She indicated the diner, her brows lifting in an irritated frown. “I have a job already. I own this restaurant.”
“I know, but this would be right up your alley and shouldn’t interfere with your café. I need a caterer. Someone who can prepare meals for the crews of men and women during the summer fire season coming up.”
She snorted. “I’ve got two kids. I can’t flitter around, traveling from state to state to provide food to firefighters.”
“You wouldn’t have to. I just need you for the fires we get in our own mountains, which shouldn’t be too many. Tim Wixler told me you’ve done it before.”
Her mouth rounded and she hesitated. “Yes, but not anymore. I’m afraid it wouldn’t work for me now.”
“You sure? I heard that you own a mobile kitchen and lots of tables and chairs.”
“Yes, that’s true, but I’ve advertised all of my equipment for sale.”
“Then you know what the work entails. Since you’re the only restaurant in town, I wanted to give you first dibs on the job. Reno is eighty miles away, so I thought I’d ask the locals first.”
Her frown stayed firmly in place, and he hurried on, wondering why he felt desperate for her to accept. “It’s just for the summer and it wouldn’t be dangerous. You’d be serving meals up at the fire camp, which would be far away from the fire.”
She gave a derogatory snort. “Yeah, it’s safe. With all those big airplanes, bulldozers and pumper trucks driving around the place. No thanks.”
Hmm. Maybe she did have something against firefighters after all.
“It’s good money. We pay top dollar.” He didn’t know why he kept enticing her. She’d said no, but he’d noticed how shorthanded she was in the restaurant. That could be because someone had called in sick, or because she couldn’t afford to hire more people. Whatever the cause, he felt certain that she needed the extra income. So why wouldn’t she accept his offer?
“I’m not really staffed to cater meals to a bunch of unruly firefighters anymore,” she said.
Unruly firefighters? He was one of them. And from what he’d been told, her husband had been one, too. So why the animosity?
“I could help you get set up,” he offered. “If you can provide the equipment, workforce and prepare the food, I can provide you with the Cubitainers. I’ve even got two extra power generators I could let you borrow.”
Because she’d done this kind of work before, Megan should already know that Cubitainers were clear, square plastic containers for putting juice, milk and water in. They were stackable and easy to transport.
“I’d make it as painless as possible,” Jared continued. “All you and your people have to do is cook and serve the food to the crews for an occasional fire.”
Okay, he was trying too hard. And yet, he felt as though his future happiness depended on her acceptance. A crazy notion if ever he’d had one.
She shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. I can’t.”
He flashed her a smile, determined not to be upset by her rebuttal. She must have her reasons for declining, and he couldn’t fault her for it. “Okay, I understand. If you change your mind in the next few days, just say the word. I won’t be going into Reno to approach other possible vendors there for another week or so. You’ve got time to change your mind.”
“I won’t change my mind.”
“Well, just in case.” He reached inside his shirt pocket and pulled out one of the new business cards his office manager had made up for him two weeks ago when he’d first arrived in town. Handing the card over to Megan, he noticed how her hand trembled as she took it. She barely glanced at it before sliding it into the pocket of her apron.
“Thanks.” She turned and went inside, leaving him to follow at his own pace.
She returned with a bucket of water a few minutes later. While she resumed her work in the restaurant, he dumped the water into the rusty garbage can. He checked on the fire one last time, satisfied that it was really out. Then, he went inside for his meal. It was delicious and he finished it way too soon. And when he tried to pay his bill, Megan refused to accept any money. Instead, he left a twenty-dollar bill tucked beneath his plate when she wasn’t looking. A very tidy tip he thought she’d earned.
Walking out into the sunshine, he climbed into his blue pickup truck and drove home. But he couldn’t help wishing that Megan Rocklin had accepted the catering job.